Bringing back coach Andrew Richardson is already paying off for Emma Raducanu, believes former British No 1 Tim Henman.
Raducanu was denied a first title since her 2021 US Open triumph after a 6-0 7-6 (8-6) defeat by Croatia’s Donna Vekic in the Queen’s Club final on Sunday.
The British No 1, who powered through a two-match Saturday to reach Sunday’s showdown, did not drop a set at Queen’s until the first in the final.
Raducanu reunited with Richardson in May, the coach who guided her to that famous US Open triumph as a qualifier, and Henman feels it has been a step in the right direction for her.
“I think this has been such a positive week to have Emma back competing and winning matches, playing that controlled, aggressive tennis that we’ve seen in the past,” he told Sky Sports.
“It’s pretty clear to see that she was in great spirits on the court; her body language looked very positive.
“There’s so much upside from this week. It’s only one week; she’s got to keep building on it, and fingers crossed she can do that.
“I think it is great Andrew Richardson is back in her corner. Obviously, he’s known her for many, many years, a long time prior to their success at the US Open.
“You can hear his input from the side of the court, he was a good player himself, a very good coach and fingers crossed Emma will stick with it.
“I think consistency and continuity are something that has been missing for a number of years and I really hope Andrew gets the chance to keep building because this really is the first real opportunity for the relationship to flourish. This has been a really positive week for both.”
Consistency is key for Raducanu
This very encouraging run for Raducanu, after years under what has often seemed like crushing expectation, was not, she insisted, a return to her former self, but the incarnation of a “new Emma”.
The 23-year-old finished runner-up to Sorana Cirstea in Cluj-Napoca, her second final, in February, but missed two-and-a-half months of the season with post-viral illness and had just one win under her belt since March.
“I think I played really well this week,” said Raducanu, who pulled out of playing in Nottingham this week. “I think I’m playing pretty freely, pretty aggressively, but finding the right balance, returning, been serving pretty well. It’s important on grass.
“My team have helped me through some really sticky situations in the past few months, and it honestly means the world to me for them to believe unconditionally. I wouldn’t be here also without them.”
She added: “I haven’t really played much this season, but to think I have made two finals so far, which I haven’t done in years, it has to be kind of, in a way, celebrated, and it’s a good achievement for me and I’m proud of it.”
Vekic reflected on Raducanu’s excellent run to the final, saying: “She playing really good tennis. Obviously she wouldn’t be in the final if she wasn’t. I think for her it’s just the most important to stay healthy.
“I think for everyone, the schedule is so tough. The level of tennis is so high. It’s so physically demanding. I think that’s the biggest thing.
“She likes to play in front of the home crowd.”
Optimism and hope
Sky Sports Raz Mirza on Raducanu’s Queen’s run
Raducanu has played five matches on grass and has come through unscathed, playing aggressively and dictating matches, which is the main reason why she reunited with coach Richardson.
She has gone back to her routes, but playing consistency and competing against the very best players who can suffocate her game style, is an issue.
Her wins over Cirstea and Iva Jovic were impressive, but Vekic showed experience, class, and composure, shutting out the noise to win a quality encounter.
Now it is time to reset with a well-earned week off and head into Eastbourne and then Wimbledon with real optimism and hope.
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